Portable, practical and powerful — the best wireless speakers to suit your lifestyle

WHETHER you’re after small and handy or big and loud, there is something for everyone with these wireless speakers.

Rod Chester

News Corp Australia NetworkFebruary 12, 20142:19pm

Speakers’ corner: the ace of bassSource:Supplied

WHETHER you’re after small and handy or big and loud, these wireless speakers have features that will suit everyone.

WOODBOURNE — Polk Audio

Rating: 4.5/5

Back in the day good quality speakers came in big, wooden boxes. The Woodbourne from Polk Audio betrays that heritage with a classic look of a in a large timber veneer top. This 60cm wide unit is designed to be your main home music centre. You can connect your device easily through Bluetooth, or if you have an iOS device you can use AirPlay on your home network. It also has a USB, Optical, Stereo 3.5mm and Ethernet ports. Inside the box are two 5.24 inch midwoofers and two tweeters and the rich, deep sound is a sign that the quality of exterior is reflected on the inside where it counts.

$849 / polkaudio.com.au

DASH 7 — Soundmatters

Rating: 4.5/5

In audio, most things usually live up to your expectations assuming your expectations are solid. Buy a small portable speaker and you’ll get a matching sound. The DASH 7 is an exception to the rule with a sound quality that belies its super compact size. It’s small enough to sit in front of even an iPad Air without blocking the screen and its “twofers” (woofers that are also tweeters) deliver a surprisingly big sound. It comes with a wraparound case that doubles as a stand (giving you a more directional sound), comes with a USB charger with enough wattage to also charge a tablet and doubles as a speakerphone for your smartphone.

$259 / foxl.com.au

BRV-1 — Braven

Rating: 4/5

The trouble with most wireless speakers is that they don’t seem to realise you might want to take them where speakers shouldn’t normally go. Braven’s speaker is tough enough for most outdoor outings. It’s water resistant (although that doesn’t mean you should immerse it) and its 1400mAh battery is designed to give 12 hours of playtime or, in a handy feature, be a power pack to charge your mobile device. It’s a very solid design and looks tough enough for anything. The sound quality may not be mind blowing but is certainly good enough for this type of speaker.

$219.99 / braven.com

X100 — Logitech

Rating: 3.5/5

If you’re shopping for the major sound system for your home, it’s all about the quality of the output. But there are times when other factors like convenience and cost are at the top of the list. The X100 is not going to wow audiophiles with its output but this small Bluetooth speaker is a practical and attractive design that will let you hear your music on the move. It has a microphone and doubles as a hands-free unit for your phone. The battery promises four hours of play time. It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand but big enough to give you a reasonable audio level.

$59.95 / logitech.com

SOUNDSHOOTER — Philips

Rating: 3.5/5

This rubberised tiny barrel-shaped unit with a 2W speaker offers a handy way to listen to your music out load when you’re on the go. It is just 8cm high and comes with a carabiner clip so that it’s easy to take with you. It connects to your smartphone or tablet through Bluetooth and the rechargeable battery promises eight hours. It has a microphone so you can use it to make hand-free calls.